Resilient spacing means for valve-actuating mechanism



Dec. 17, 1940. G. M.VFITTS 2,225,265

RESILIENT SPACING MEANS FOR VALVE-ACTUATING MECHANISMS Filed Aug. 11, 1937 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RESILIENT SPACING MEANS FOR VALVE- ACT'UATING MECHANISMS 11 Claims.

This invention relates generally to valve-operating mechanisms, with more particular reference to flexible, silencing spacers adapted for interposition in the valve-operating mechanism of an internal combustion engine.

The invention of the present application constitutes a modification of and an improvement over myapplicationfiled November 10, 1936,Serial No. 110,163, wherein I showed, described and claimed a flexible spacer, interposed between the valve-stem and an actuating push-rod, formed from an integral sheet-metal blank suitably curved and folded upon itself with means for yieldingly interlocking the meeting free end edges thereof.

It is well known that there are numerous types of motor construction, necessitating varying types of valve-actuating mechanisms. It has been found that the spacer of my earlier application aforesaid, while adaptable for some types of motor construction, is capable of modification and further improvement to adapt it for use in substantially all known types of automotive motor construction.

The general objects of the present invention are the same as those set forth in my earlier application aforesaid, although the attainment of these objects is accomplished in a somewhat difierent constructional manner. Instead of forming the spacer from an integral sheet-metal blank, suitably curved and folded upon itself, with meetingend edges yieldingly interlocked, the present invention contemplates a spacer comprising two individual members, curved to provide when assembled the necessary resiliency, with means provided to insure proper positional relationship at all times and under all conditions.

The underlying or basic idea of individualizing the-superposed leaves of the spacer is to insure what may be termed a rocking-chair movement of the leaves, when pressure is applied to the spacer as a unit, with substantially uniform cooperative distortion. To accomplish such result, it is essential that the peripheral edges of the spacer segments have free relative movement throughout their entire extent. This necessitates the provision of means for retaining the leaves in proper positional relationship at all timesunnecessary where the leaves are parts of an integral structure.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference tothe accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical crosssectional view of one type of valve-actuating mechanism which includes a resilient spacer embodying the present form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the upper member of the spacer, and Fig. 3 a similar view of the lower member, each illustrating preferred forms of construction;

Fig. 4 is a partly sectional side view in which is shown a manner of application of my invention to the rock-arm type of valve-actuating mechanism;

Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Figs. 2 and 3 showing, respectively, the upper and lower members of the spacer shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a partly sectional side view illustrat ing a slight modification of the spacer-actuating mechanism as shown in Fig. 1, with the spacer in condition of maximum compression;

Figs. 8 and 9 are plan views of upper and lower spacer members, respectively, illustrating one of many forms of spacer-member configuration, Fig. 8 including an appended fragmentary edge View of one end of the upper member.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, numeral II designates a conventional type of motor block provided with a port l2 for the reception of a valve l3. This valve is at the end of a valvestem l4 reciprocable in slide bearings [5 in the block H. Surrounding the lower portion of the stem [4 is a coil spring I 6, seated at the upper end in the block H and at its lower end against a retaining cap ll secured to said stemby means of a cross-pin l8. In the preferred construction, as illustrated in Fig. l, I have shown the lower end of the stem l4 provided with a reduced portion l9 adapted to pass through registering-apertures in the upper leaf 22 and the lower leaf 2| of the spacer 23, as hereinafter more fully described. I have shown a washer 20 interposed to dissipate the otherwise concentratedly localized pressure against the upper leaf 22 of the spacer.

Below the resilient spacer 23 and in contact with the lower leaf 2| thereof, I provide a pushrod 24 reciprocal in slide bearings 25 and provided with a head 26 for cooperation with acam 2l to provide for reciprocation of said push-rod in common and well known manner.

In the upper end of the push-rod 22 is provided a bore 28 for the reception of the reduced portion IQ of the stem l4 projecting through spacer 2 I.

This spacer 2| preferably comprises tWo superposed discs 22 and 23 struck from resilient sheetmetal strips and curved to provide, generally speaking, oppositely disposed concavo-convex surcompress the same and during compression against the stem I4 to open the valve I3. As the cam 21 passes beyond operative position, resili ency of the spacer 2| woulddepress the push-rod 24 at the same time restoring'the spacer members 22 and 23 to normal positions. a m

In adapting my invention to valve-actuating means to the rock-arm type, as illustrated in Fig. 4, I have shown adjustably mounted at one end of the rock-arm 29 a stud 30 so positioned as to cooperate, through the medium of a resilient spacer, with the upper end of the cam actuated push-rod 24A. While it is possible that at the lower end of the stud 30 there might be provided a reduced portion, corresponding to reduced portion I9 of the construction shown in Fig. 1, slidable through apertures in the spacer, I have shown the lower end of this stud 30 provided with a substantially spherical boss and the upper leaf 3| of the spacer provided with a. concavity 33'for the reception of this boss. The lower member 32 of this form of spacer is similarly provided with a concavity 34 for the reception of the concave portion of the upper member of the spacer, while the upper end of the push-rod 24A is provided. with a cup-shaped head which provides a socket 35-for the reception of the lower-leaf concavity 34.

The other end of the rock-arm 29 is elbowed to provide a head 40 adapted to impinge against the upper end of the valve-stem I4A for the operation of a valve similar to the valve I3shown in Fig. 1 although in reversed position. This valvestem MA is surroundedby a coil spring I6 in 5 compression between a seat I1 and the motor block, this construction being identical with that shown in Fig. 1 although in inverted disposition.

To guard against fracture due to rapidly re- 50 peated compression and expansion of the spacer member, I prefer to indent the upper member. of the spacer as shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

In Fig. '7 I have shown a construction which corresponds very closely to the construction 55 shown in Fig. 1 except that the lower end of the valve stem I4 is not provided with a reduced portion but merely abuts the head 20 of the stem I9, said head corresponding to the washer 20 and said stem to the reduced portion I9 as shown in. 60. Fig. 1. a

The spacer need not necessarily be of circular configuration. In the construction heretofore described the relative rotating positions of the spacer members is of little importance- However,

65 thespacer may be made of substantially rectangular configuration as illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, equally well adapted to the'constructions of Figs. 1 and 4. In this case means must be provided to prevent relative rotative movement of the spacer members, and for this purpose I have shown the upper member 36 i provided with tongues 31, 31 bent or curved downwardly and adapted to be passed through recesses 39, 39 in the lower member 38.

75 In the preamble of this specification I referred when under pressure.

sitions.

to a rocking-chair movement of the leaves To more fully explain the desirability of such movement and the nature thereof it may be stated-as any skilled metal worker well knows-that a purely up-and-down vibratory movement of said leaves, rapid and continuous, with all or a portion of the peripheral edges rigidly connected, producing abnormal lateralstresses. will result, in a hardening of the metal and in many cases premature cleavage or breakage.

In the device described as exemplifying my present invention, it will be apparent that the peripheral edges of the leaves first receive the compressive forces, and due to the merger of the medial leaf. concavities into peripheral convexities, continuation of the compressive forces has theefiect of I rolling the leaves together, toward the center. Each leaf being free for lateral expansion the hardening effect of restricted vibrationisminimized. 1

Many other modifications of minor details of my improved resilient spacing means for valveactuating mechanisms will doubtless readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which the present invention appertainsand I. therefore do not limit my inventionto the specificconstructions herein shownand described.

I claim: m I

1. A resilent spacer. adapted for interposition in valve-actuating mechanismcomprising a pair of individual, oppositely-disposed. concavoconvex leaves superposed for yielding compression as a unit, and means for: preventingrelative rotary movement of said leaves, said means comprising ofiset tonguesonone of said leaves cooperating with registering recesses in the other leaf.

2. A resilentyspacer adapted for. interposition in valve actuating mechanism comprising oppositely-disposed r concavo'econvex leaves. yieldingly compressible as aunit, the concavities being median merging. into convexities aslthe peripheral edges of the contacting leaves areapproached.

3. A resilient spacer adapted for interposition in valve actuatingmechanism comprising oppositely-disposed ,concavo-convex leaves yieldingly compressible asa unit, the concavities being median, merging into convexities as the peripheral edges of theleaves are approached, and cooperative means common to said spacer and the actuating means spaced thereby to retain the spacer member in operative positions.

4..A resilient spacer adapted for interposition in valve actuating mechanism comprising concavo-convex leaves in inversive superposition to proachedand cooperative means common to said I spacer "and the actuating means spaced thereby to retain said spacermembers in operative po- 5. A- resilientspacer adapted. for interposition invalve-actuating mechanism comprising a pair of individual spring-metal leaves having oppositely disposed median'concave portions providing. "clearance,therebetween, 'sai'd concave portions merging into convexities asthe outer edges of said leaves are approached.

6. A resilient spacer adapted for interposition in valveactuatingmechanism comprising a pair of individual spring-metal leaves having oppositely disposedmedian concave portions providing clearance therebetween, said concave portions merging into convexities as the outer edges of said leaves are approached whereby compression of the spacer as a unit is first effective at the edges of the leaves which roll together toward the center as the compressive forces are increased.

7. A resilient spacer adapted for interposition in valve-actuating mechanism comprising a pair of individual spring-metal leaves having oppositely disposed median concave portions providing clearance therebetween, said concave portions merging into convexities as the outer edges of said leaves are approached, and cooperative means common tosaid spacer and the actuating means spaced thereby to retain the spacer members in operative positions.

8. A resilient spacer adapted for interposition in valve-actuating mechanism comprising a pair of individual spring-metal leaves having oppositely disposed median concave portions providing clearance therebetween, said concave portions merging into convexities as the outer edges of said leaves are approached whereby compression of the spacer as a unit is first efiective at the edges of said leaves which roll together toward the center as the compressive forces are increased, and cooperative means common to said spacer and the actuating means spaced thereby to retain the spacer members in operative positions.

9. A resilient spacer adapted for interposition in valve-actuating mechanism comprising a pair of individual spring-metal leaves having oppositely disposed median concave portions providing clearance therebetween, and said leaves being provided with means noninterferent with free lateral expansion of said leaves for preventing relative rotative movement thereof.

10. A resilient spacer for interposition in valveactuating mechanism comprising a pair of individual resilient leaves having medially located concavities and in inversive superposition to provide median clearance therebetween, whereby said leaves are yieldingly compressible as a unit, said valve actuating mechanism including a valve stem and an actuating push rod, a leaf retaining member said member being provided with a disc head and a reduced portion adapted to project through registering apertures in the resilient leaves and into a socket in the push rod, whereby the resilient leaves are retained in proper positional relationship.

11. A resilient spacer adapted for interposition in valve-actuating mechanism comprising a pair of individual resilient leaves having medially located concavities in inversive superposition to provide median clearance therebetween, whereby said leaves are yieldingly compressible as a unit, the concave portions of said leaves merging into outer edge convexities, said valve actuating mechanism including a valve stem and an actuating push rod, a leaf retaining member said member having a disc head and a reduced portion projecting through registering apertures in the resilient leaves and into a socket in said push rod, whereby the resilient leaves are retained in proper positional relationship.

GEORGE M. FITTS. 

